From what document do executive orders originate? Ask Paste BN

Recently, House Speaker John Boehner has stated that he will ask the House to sue President Obama for the unlawful use of an executive order in the rollout of Obamacare. But what grants the president the authority to use executive orders?

Are they written in the Constitution? Or are they from another document?

Paste BN Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page answers a reader question about executive orders and how presidents assume this power. To find out how Harry Truman and Franklin Roosevelt used executive orders during their terms, watch the video.

Have a question of your own? Ask using #askusatoday on Twitter. You can also e-mail askusatoday@usatoday.com or post your question on the Paste BN Opinion Facebook page.

From what document do executive orders originate? Ask Paste BN

Paste BN Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page answers a reader question about executive orders. Have a question of your own? Ask us using #askusatoday on Twitter, or by e-mailing askusatoday@usatoday.com.